Justin Brownlee scatters career-high 51 points, leads Gin Kings past Beermen

Justin Brownlee delivered an electrifying performance, scoring a career-high 51 points, as Barangay Ginebra bounced back from a disappointing season opener with a 108-102 victory over San Miguel Beer in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday.

Taking charge, Brownlee sparked Ginebra’s impressive 34-23 surge in the fourth quarter, culminating in a decisive layup that sealed the win. This triumph marked a significant turnaround for the Kings, who had faced a narrow 67-73 defeat against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a road game in Candon, Ilocos Sur just last Saturday.

In support of Brownlee’s stellar performance, Japeth Aguilar added 21 points, while rookie RJ Abarrientos made a valuable contribution with 13 points, including 11 in the first half. The Kings engaged in a fierce battle against the Beermen, handing SMB their first loss of the season and dropping them to third place in Group B, behind the undefeated Elasto Painters (2-0) and NLEX Road Warriors (2-0), who are set to vie for the solo lead in a Wednesday match at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

Brownlee rebounded from a lackluster performance in Candon, showcasing not only his scoring prowess but also pulling down 13 rebounds, recording six steals, and dishing out five assists. He notched 16 points and eight rebounds in the first half, then intensified his efforts post-halftime, netting 19 points, including two three-pointers, during a dominant third quarter.

Despite Ginebra’s resilience, the Beermen managed to regain the lead, 79-74, heading into the final quarter, fueled by the offensive duo of Jeron Teng and Terrence Romeo.

However, Ginebra’s resolve shone through in the payoff period, as they launched a relentless counterattack. Jordan Adams contributed 15 points in the first half but finished with 23 overall. The Beermen also saw contributions from June Mar Fajardo (17), CJ Perez (14), Romeo (13), and Teng (12), all registering double-digit scores.

The contest was fiercely contested from the outset, with both teams locked in a 24-24 tie in the first quarter and a 46-46 deadlock at halftime. The Beermen began to pull ahead in the third quarter, with Teng scoring 12 points and Romeo adding another seven, as the entire SMB squad shot an impressive 66 percent from the field, compared to Ginebra’s 47.4 percent.

Yet, Brgy. Ginebra’s resilience and strategic adjustments in the fourth quarter ultimately propelled them to victory.

The scores:

Brgy. Ginebra 108 – Brownlee 51, J.Aguilar 21, Abarrientos 13, Thompson 7, Holt 5, Ahanmisi 4, Go 4, Tenorio 3, Cu 0, Adamos 0, Garcia 0.

San Miguel 102 – Adams 23, Fajardo 17, Perez 14, Romeo 13, Teng 12, Ross 5, Rosales 4, Trollano 4, Cruz 4, Manuel 4, Tautuaa 2, Lassiter 0.

Quarterscores: 24-24, 46-46, 74-79, 108-102.